Patchwork Politics, why many people don't vote ?

[Justin Smith]

One of the main reasons that I think many people don`t vote is what I call "Patchwork Politics".

I don`t think the old fault lines of society really exist much anymore. There is no party which I really support. There are individual parties policies I support, but many I vehemently disagree with.

 

One of the best examples, for me anyway, is the married tax credit proposed by the Tories.

I`m very much in favour of it, despite the fact we probably wouldn`t get it, but despite this there are too many Tory policies I very much disagree with for me to actually vote for them.

On the other hand the fact that the other parties have been so disparaging about the married tax credit would make me less likely to vote for them.

Result ?

I`ll probably spoil my vote or use it for the Green party as a semi protest vote.

It`s all irrelevant anyway, I vote in the Brightside constituency, one of the safest Labour seats in the entire country.

My vote is more or less meaningless.

 

I suspect many other people feel the same way.

[Wildcat]

One of the main reasons that I think many people don`t vote is what I call "Patchwork Politics".

I don`t think the old fault lines of society really exist much anymore. There is no party which I really support. There are individual parties policies I support, but many I vehemently disagree with.

 

One of the best examples, for me anyway, is the married tax credit proposed by the Tories.

I`m very much in favour of it, despite the fact we probably wouldn`t get it, but despite this there are too many Tory policies I very much disagree with for me to actually vote for them.

On the other hand the fact that the other parties have been so disparaging about the married tax credit would make me less likely to vote for them.

Result ?

I`ll probably spoil my vote or use it for the Green party as a semi protest vote.

It`s all irrelevant anyway, I vote in the Brightside constituency, one of the safest Labour seats in the entire country.

My vote is more or less meaningless.

 

I suspect many other people feel the same way.

 

The Tory plans for tax breaks for married couples mask the intention behind all their other proposals.

 

Tory proposals on the family include:

 

• A cut to Child Tax Credits for middle-income earners.

 

• A cut in Sure Start services which risks stigmatising those who use them.

 

• An end to universal free childcare entitlements for 3 and 4 year olds.

 

• All but the poorest families missing out on Child Trust Funds.

 

• Hard fought extensions to flexible and family friendly working put at risk by the Tories’ isolationist EU policy.

 

• Cohabiting couples, single parents, and poorer families losing out from the planned marriage tax break.

 

It is a matter of giving with one hand and taking with the other, so it is no surprise you should find the part they are selling to be attractive. It is however dishonest of them to pretend to be caring for the family, when their plans cut back on the support families have come to expect.

 

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/tory-married-tax-break-masks-wider-threat-to-britains-families/

[Tony]

The Tory plans for tax breaks for married couples mask the intention behind all their other proposals.

 

 

 

It is a matter of giving with one hand and taking with the other, so it is no surprise you should find the part they are selling to be attractive. It is however dishonest of them to pretend to be caring for the family, when their plans cut back on the support families have come to expect.

 

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/tory-married-tax-break-masks-wider-threat-to-britains-families/

 

The idea may rankle somewhat with the liberal in some of us but it is an undeniably popular proposal and at the end of the day politicians are there to sensibly implement the will of the people, not to push them around like a big brother who knows best.

[Justin Smith]

The idea may rankle somewhat with the liberal in some of us but it is an undeniably popular proposal and at the end of the day politicians are there to sensibly implement the will of the people, not to push them around like a big brother who knows best.

 

The thing is I wasn`t so much talking about the policy in itself, I was merely giving that as an example of an individual policy I like, but the particular party`s other policies are not so appealing.

The broader point being there is no party that stands for what I believe in, just individual policies from different parties.

Result, I`d be tempted not to vote were it not for the fact I believe it`s everyones civic duty to vote, even if they only spoil there ballot papers.

How many Tories are in agreement with all, or even nearly all, of their party`s policies ?

And the same question equally applies to the other parties.

[Wildcat]

The thing is I wasn`t so much talking about the policy in itself, I was merely giving that as an example of an individual policy I like, but the particular party`s other policies are not so appealing.

The broader point being there is no party that stands for what I believe in, just individual policies from different parties.

Result, I`d be tempted not to vote were it not for the fact I believe it`s everyones civic duty to vote, even if they only spoil there ballot papers.

How many Tories are in agreement with all, or even nearly all, of their party`s policies ?

And the same question equally applies to the other parties.

 

I have the same problem with labour. I would happily vote for the candidates signed up to the Labour Representation Committees manifesto, but considering the miserable number of socialists in the labour party it leaves me liable to vote green despite fundamental disgreements with their policies.

 

http://www.l-r-c.org.uk/ge2010candidates